~ If you could read my mind

Monthly Archives: March 2016

Today I welcome yet another fellow author from MuseItUp. I am delighted to find myself part of such a friendly and diverse group of people. They have set the bar high with all their writing accomplishments. Janie Franz is no exception. Oh. My. Goodness. Just thinking about everything she’s done is exhausting. Read her bio and see if you don’t agree.

About Janie Franz

Janie Franz comes from a long line of Southern liars and storytellers. She told other people’s stories as a freelance journalist for many years. With Texas wedding DJ, Bill Cox, she co-wrote The Ultimate Wedding Ceremony Book and The Ultimate Wedding Reception Book, and then self-published a writing manual, Freelance Writing: It’s a Business, Stupid! She also published an online music publication, was an agent/publicist for a groove/funk band, a radio announcer, and a yoga/relaxation instructor.

Currently, she is writing her twelfth novel and a self-help book, Starting Over: Becoming a Woman of Power.

Today Janie’s treating us with an excerpt from Coda (Book 3 of The Lost Song Trilogy, book 6 of the Bowdancer series). If you like a fantasy romance about strong female characters, I think this book’s for you.

By Janie Franz

Jan-nell, her son, Chandro and Bekar from the sisterhood, and the virile sword dancers discover dark secrets about the women on the mountain as they bring the lost sisters home. During the journey, Jan-nell’s growing attachment to Bekar is tested as Bekar discovers the joys of having men in her life.

EXCERPT:

Jan-nell raced toward the boulders on the cliff above the dyemaker’s encampment where her sister-kin supported a young girl between them, guiding her carefully down the treacherous rocks toward their fire. The girl’s bright yellow dress bulged around her belly, straining the fabric.

“She is about to bear a babe?” Jan-nell asked, placing her hand on the girl’s roundness. “Is this your first?” Raising her face to look at the young mother, Jan-nell gasped. She stared at her sister-kin Chandro, who had wrapped her arm around the girl, held her right hand, and watched the ground and the girl’s bare feet, as they moved.

There was the same oval-shaped face, the same light brown eyes, the same copper curls. But the young mother was only perhaps sixteen summers and kept her curls long, falling far down her back, not in the curly cap Chandro wore. The girl could have been her little sister.

Though appearing strong in the leather vest and wide-legged short breeches of the sisterhood, Chandro the trackfinder appeared stunned and frightened. She whispered assurances to the girl as they came farther into the light of the fire.

The girl cried out as Jan-nell felt her belly tighten underneath her hand. She made Chandro and master hunter Bekar stop while she placed her hands on each side of the bulge and looked deep into the girl’s eyes. “Take a deep breath, filling the belly. Like this.” She showed her. “Now let it out slowly for as long as you can. Concentrate only on releasing the breath.” Usually, one long breath was enough to breathe through an episode. But because the girl was so frightened, Jan-nell had her breathe again to calm her and make sure she had learned the practice.

“You did well.” Jan-nell smiled. “There is a place for you to rest over here. We will make you tea and some broth… How are you called?”

The girl stammered out, “Wila.”

Jan-nell tried out the new name. “Wila.” Then she smiled again. “We will take good care of you and your babe.” She pointed to a sheltered spot where a coarse blanket stretched between two boulders and was held in place by large rocks. Jan-nell’s son, Bearin, and the beastmaster, Shadu, had made the shelter for her to rest during the heat of the day. When she had spread her own blanket and laid her head upon her travel pack earlier, she had no idea it would become a birthing chamber.

Night had fallen quickly on the plateau where the travelers made their camp. The fire gave out a welcome glow, and one of the burning branches would provide a torch if Jan-nell needed one to guide her when the birthing occurred.

Chandro and Bekar helped Wila sit on the blanket under the canopy while Jan-nell moved her travel pack out of the away. She would need the healing wares within it as the night progressed. She turned to the trackfinder. “Could we use your pack for a pillow for Wila?”

Chandro nodded as if in disturbed thought before she moved to fetch her pack.

“Bekar, make the girl comfortable,” Jan-nell said then took two steps toward the trackfinder. She hooked her arm around Chandro’s elbow, whispering as she walked with her away from the girl. “How fare you?” Jan-nell searched her face, which still was a mix of emotions, but fear and horror were the most pronounced. Chandro had seen something.

Jan-nell guided her sister-kin toward the dark-skinned sword dancer Farik who frowned as he listened to his sword brother Mali’s report of what had happened in the dyemakers’ camp. Mali was still dressed only in the black silk loin cloth he donned to climb the rocks without hindrance when he and Chandro had gone after Bekar.

Farik turned at the women’s approach. He stepped to meet Chandro, immediately drawing her into his arms.

“I think she is in shock,” Jan-nell said. “Get her off her feet and hold her close. Heal her with the Ashay, the spirit within. If she starts to shake like she is cold, cover her with a blanket even in this heat and give her some tea.”

She turned to Mali, her foster-father. He looked weary in the fire’s glow and much older than she. “Take Chandro’s pack to the girl. It will be her pillow.”

“I will fetch it,” he said, frowning at the young mother who still sat on the blanket beside Bekar who had not moved. “But the girl will not let me near her.”

Jan-nell nodded. “I thought as much. That was why the women supported her, and you did not help.” Her forehead wrinkled in worry over Bekar who just sat with a hand on the young girl’s arm but did not even look at her. “I will take it to the girl and make her comfortable.” Returning her attention to Mali, she asked. “Are you well?”

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit, Janie. Readers, check her books out. They’re going on my TBR list right now! Also she’s hosting me on her blog tomorrow (see above for address) If you have a minute, please hop on over and see what I have to say. Thanks, guys!

Synopsis: After a late night visit to Battington’s marketplace, Princess Mena vanishes without a trace. Merchants are frantic, because King Leander has called for a curfew and postponed the Spring Festival until further notice. Certain his former constable is the man for the job, the mayor hires Xander to investigate, hoping he can solve the mystery in a hurry so things can go back to normal.

But Xander’s not so sure that’s possible, because there’s romance involved, and he knows when that happens folks who are normally very sensible seem to lose all reason. In addition to sorting out truths, half-truths and outright lies, he must deal with gypsies, love potions and an illegal moonshine operation before he gets to the bottom of things.

I’m so excited!! Join me on my blog tour for my newest book, Xander’s Tangled Web. The folks at Juniper Grove Book have a great week planned. I’ll be featured on a different blog, Monday, March 21st through Friday, March 25th.

Drop by for a peek at Xander’s world and the chance to win an Amazon gift card and a free copy of the book. I’ll be looking for you!

While vacationing in Cape Cod, Theresa, played by Robin Wright, finds a mysterious, intriguing love letter in a bottle in the sand, addressed from Garret to Catherine. Fascinated by it, she uncovers more letters and eventually tracks down the man who wrote them. Garret, played by Kevin Costner, lives quietly on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. He’s the strong, silent type of guy. The kind who keeps his emotions private. Theresa finds out the story behind the letters and, little by little, she falls in love with him.

He’s shattered by his wife’s untimely death and cannot forgive her for leaving. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is when he finally makes peace with her brother after years of blame. Neither man says much, but the emotions are there and once they’ve finished their conversation, each has let the other know it’s okay. Paul Newman plays his father, Dodge. Another of my favorites is the emotional scene is when he talks about his son.

This is a beautiful movie with wonderful acting. Beautiful scenery, emotional music, wonderful acting. I adore the kind of characters Kevin Costner always plays. Robin Wright and Paul Newman were perfect in their roles. Make sure you have plenty of tissues. If you need a good cry, this is one to watch.

Lobster Tails

I’ve never cooked lobster before, but it is just about my favorite seafood and seems so simple I just might get brave enough to try it sometime.

If the lobster tails are frozen, thaw them in the refrigerator. Be sure to plan ahead, as this takes 8 to 10 hours. Uncooked tails have a mottled appearance with a green-blue-brown cast. To cook four 8-ounce tails, bring 6 cups water to boiling in a 3-quart saucepan. Add the lobster tails. Simmer, uncovered, for 8 to 12 minutes or until shells turn bright red and the meat is tender when poked with a fork. For larger or smaller tails, adjust the cooking time as needed. Drain in a colander

To serve, place one lobster tail, shell side down, on each plate. You can use kitchen scissors to cut each tail lengthwise through the meat for easier eating. Serve with butter for dipping.

Anne Rothman-Hicks and Kenneth Hicks first started writing books together while Anne was a student at Bryn Mawr College and Ken was a student at Haverford College — a long time ago, when, as their children like to say, dinosaurs roamed the earth. Ken grew up in Abingdon, Pennsylvania and Anne in both New York City where she was born and in Scarsdale, New York.

In 1973, they began to live in New York City while Ken was attending law school at Columbia University and Anne was working in publishing. They wrote their first novel together in 1976, hoping that it would be a success and Ken would not have to even start working as a lawyer. Alas, that book is still in on the upper shelf of their closet, but they kept at the writing business.

In 1984, they published Theft of the Shroud, a novel, through Banbury books, distributed by Putnam. That same year they also published a series of 10 books based on the most popular boy’s and girl’s names, and a book about the stars for children. At this time, Ken stopped practicing law for two years as they devoted themselves fulltime to writing and their children. However, children need to eat and be clothed and go to school, and these things all cost money, so Ken went back to practicing law. Still, they continued to write, and rewrite, and rewrite some more.

Most recently, Ken and Anne are the authors of Weave A Murderous Web, (mystery) Melange Books LLC, 2016; Praise Her, Praise Diana, (Adult thriller) Melange Books LLC, 2014, Kate and the Kid, (Adult mainstream) Wings ePress 2013, and Things Are Not What They Seem (Tween fantasy) MuseItUp Publishing 2014. Anne and Ken have also published two small-format photography books, which are available on the Apple iBookstore – Hearts (no flowers) Signs of Love in the Gritty City and Picture Stones.

Excerpt from WEAVE A MURDEROUS WEB

“Carmen’s working on a series about children and the courts,” Francine said. “Kids falling into poverty are a very big problem.”

“I’m aware of the problem, Francine. I’ll skip over the question of what has made Carmen give a good hoot in hell about children all of a sudden. What does any of this have to do with that coke-head Mark?”

“Oh, nothing much. Nothing at all really.”

She was hedging, worried that the prospect of helping Carmen might have made me shut the whole thing down before it ever began.

“Go on, Francine.”

“It’s just… she knew Mark fairly well and doesn’t think his death was accidental. She says Mark did drugs too much to do something that stupid.”

“So she thinks he did it on purpose? Is that it? He committed suicide over the predicament of his client and child?”

“Not exactly,” Francine said.

In hindsight I can see clearly how nonchalant she wanted to seem, playing with the gold locket and dropping it inside her sweater, glancing in the direction of the window as if a pretty bird had alighted there.

“Carmen thinks Mark was murdered.”

And now let’s find out a little more about the two of you. How long have you been writing?

We first wrote together when we were both in college (Anne at Bryn Mawr and Ken at Haverford). We arranged what was called a project course with a Haverford professor to write a book for children. A Moon and a Tune has never made it off the top shelf of our closet, but we enjoyed the process and have continued ever since. We write middle reader fiction and non-fiction, young adult fiction, and thrillers, mysteries and mainstream novels for adults.

Wow, you really are the dynamic duo! Describe what you consider your ideal writing conditions.

Ken writes at the computer in the bedroom. Anne works in a chair in the living room. We both enjoy quiet while we write, but we realize that when things are going badly the quiet can get very loud, and when things are going well, noise does not matter.

Are you a plotter, a pantser or some combination of both?

We are a combination of plotter and pantser. We always have a basic outline of how the book will begin and end before we start to write. But we try to remain open to change, especially when a character becomes more important than first expected.

Name one of your all-time favorite movies, the one you instantly recognize when it flashes across the screen, the one you stop and watch no matter how many times you’ve seen it, the one where you find yourself mouthing the dialogue along with the characters.

For Ken, the movie would be “Casablanca”. For Anne it would be “The Wizard of Oz.” She can sing along with it as well.

Love both of those movies. Where do you go for inspiration?

Book ideas come from out of the air, so to speak. We like to take long walks, which are conducive to ideas appearing. On walks, we can also talk about a book and its plot or its problems, or we can just march along and say nothing. We always feel better after a long walk.

Name an author or authors who never fail to inspire you.

Ken: William Butler Yeats and Robert Frost.

Anne: Kurt Vonnegut.

Ken: Agrees with Anne about Kurt Vonnegut.

Tell us a little bit about your current WIP.

On March 8, 2016, Melange Books LLC will be publishing our mystery entitled, Weave A Murderous Web. The book’s main character is Jane Larson, an attorney who lives and works in New York City. The same character inhabits our thriller, Praise Her, Praise Diana and our mystery/thriller Mind Me, Milady. We are planning a fourth book involving her also.

In the middle reader/young adult area, we are working on a sequel to Things Are Not What They Seem, involving all of the same characters on a new adventure, although this will include some time travel back to the Revolutionary War period in New York City.

What is the best compliment you ever received as a writer?

This comment by a reviewer of Praise Her, Praise Diana, “Definitely a book that will make you sit up and take notice and will have you thinking about it long after you have finished it. This book is food for your brain and I love books that make me think about my own views and question what I would do if faced with a similar circumstance.

You are so right. More time for reading and writing!! I want to thank both of you for taking time out of your busy schedules to stop by for a visit. Come back anytime. Readers, take a look at the information below so you can check out Ken and Anne’s books. And while you’re at it, hop on over to their blog and read all about my newest book, Xander’s Tangled Web. http://www.randh71productions.co,/blog/

The Last of the Mohicans, starring Daniel Day-Lewis is one of my all time favorite movies. If I’m channel surfing and happen across it, I always stop. It has all the ingredients of a good movie. Action, adventure, romance. Not to mention handsome men. The strong, silent type.

It takes place in 1757 during the French and Indian War. The last living chief of the Mohican tribe, Chingachgook, travels west with his sons Uncas and Hawkeye, a white man he adopted. They rescue Major Heyward, along with Colonel Munro’s daughters, Cora and Alice, from an ambush and accompany them to Fort William Henry so they can join their father. While they travel, Cora forms a bond with Hawkeye.

When they arrive, the French hold the foot under siege. Without reinforcements, it falls. The French general promises them safe passage to Albany, but on the way they are attacked by Magua and his Huron army, because he wants revenge for the death of his family. Hawkeye and the Mohicans fight their way through, leading Cora, Alice, and Heyward from the battle, but Magua later captures the major and the women, and takes them prisoner.

The scenery in this movie is spectacular and the music is moving. I’ve read where Day-Lewis immersed himself in the part to the point where he carried a musket around for months. My favorite scenes in the movie have little or no dialogue. Subtle nuance speaks a thousand words. The scene where Hawkeye searches for Cora at the fort and his expression when he finds her and realizes she’s been looking for him, the scene at the waterfall, and the silent moments shared between Uncas and Alice at the end.

Sausage-Venison Stew

Nothing says frontier life like venison stew. I grew up eating deer meat, and since my husband was a deer hunter, I learned to cook it as well. Since it has very little fat, the trick is to find techniques to cook it so it won’t end up being tough as a boot! I found this recipe many years ago. It’s still a family favorite.

1 lb venison, cubed

1 lb kiolbassa sausage, cubed

1/2 bag Italian Green Beans

2 c new potatoes or peeled and cubed potatoes

1 onion, sliced

2 T chopped garlic

2 beef bouillon cubes

Salt and Pepper to taste

Parsley for garnish

Put sausage and venison in a skillet. Brown it with onions and garlic. Add green beans and potatoes. Add bouillon, salt, pepper and water to cover vegetable. Cook on top of stove or in oven at 350 degrees for about an hour. Garnish with parsley. Serves 4

Lisa Lickel lives in the rolling hills of western Wisconsin. Surrounded by books and dragons, she writes inspiring fiction. Her novels include the Buried Treasure mystery series (The Last Bequest, The Map Quilt and The Newspaper Code) and the award-winning romance, Meander Scar; A Summer in Oakville, co-authored with best-selling author Shellie Neumeier, Healing Grace, The Last Detail and a series of historical early reader books, First Children of Farmington among others. She also writes short stories, feature articles, and radio theater. She is a member of Wisconsin Writers Association and the Chicago Writer’s Association. Lisa loves to encourage new authors through mentoring, speaking, and leading workshops. Lisa also is an avid book reviewer and blogger, and a freelance editor. She is married to a high school biology teacher, and they have two sons and daughters in law, grandchildren and a grand-kitty. Find more at LisaLickel.com.

She needs a movie set miracle, he needs cash…can a farmer morph into a movie star in five days?

If Shelly has her way, Danny will become America’s next heartthrob and she’ll get her own promotions company. He’s already gorgeous, a little naive, and needs to work on that accent. To Danny, Shelly is on the pompous side, but holds the key to his real dreams…if he can figure out all the rules, say the right things for the daily vlog session, keep his heart strings in place, dodge Shelly’s vicious former boyfriend and the movie star diva. Shelly’s about to lose a lot more than her heart if she can’t get a handle on her wounded pride and learn who to trust.

By the time Fred corralled Shelly for her final vlog entry, it was dark on the outdoor set, mosquitoes overcame the aerial spray, and Shelly had not eaten since mid-morning. Winston was safely ensconced in Roma’s quarters, a canvas tent she insisted on so vocal distortion was kept to a minimum.

“You got Winston on film today, right?” Shelly twisted her neck to loosen up and swung her shoulders.

“Oh, yeah, I did that, sweetheart.”

“How’d he do? Sound okay?”

“He’ll need some work with Roma, but he handled himself well.”

Fred wore a strange grin.

“What? He have good angles? He looks all right?”

“That he does. Okay, I’m going to run film, so pretend I’m not here and talk like the camera is your best friend. Spill your guts, doll, and mean it.”

Shelly swallowed a few times and put the long, long, long day to the back of her mind. The light kept her from seeing Fred. She blinked at the red light and…

“Tommy set me up for this. I am a good publicist and he knows it. Tommy Lord became what he is because of me. Wait. I take that back. He’s a rat fink, but I didn’t make him that way.

You hear me?” Shelly laughed from the back of her throat. “For dropping me, I’m going ride tracks all down your back on the way to taking Jovian Productions to number one. You don’t deserve to be second in the industry, either. Everything about you and your joke of a distribution company is second-rate.”

Cripes, now she was repeating herself. Shelly stared at her hands, trying to think of stuff to say that sounded good. People loved at that juicy dirt talk. Even if she was over Tommy. She had her pride, after all, and none of the gossip in the tabloids was true. Talk about her day. Yeah.

“Since the moment Mr. Pettibone kicked Seth Taylor off the set and Winston Daniels stepped into the spotlight, I knew I could do something with him. Such great bones and good physique to work with. I guarantee you that within five days, I make every woman in the world drool over him and every man admire him. With his naturally thick hair, romantic build, and dreamy eyes, we’ll create a publicity campaign that puts his picture on billboards in every city, ads in all major publications, and do an online drive in everyone’s face and ear. The world will fall in love with him, the new lead in Everything About You, a movie that will make Love Story look like a postcard.”

How long have you been writing?

I took a class in 2001 and began selling my work in 2003, so I’ve been writing professionally since then. Starting with articles for magazine and newspapers, then stories, and got my first agent and two novel contracts in 2007 for 2009 releases. A few years ago I branched into freelance editing, and along the way was the editor for a couple of different magazines

Are you a plotter, a pantser or some combination of both?

I am a flexible plotter. Certain genres call for more substantial plots than others, such as mysteries. I like to do some “pre-writing” to get some of the background business of scene and character development out of the way, to work out the kinks in my imagined settings and timeline, and be able to step into the book before I start writing. I’ve learned it’s much better if I find the right starting point for the story and not try to make the reader keep up while I’m still on the journey of discovery.

Where do you go for inspiration?

Today’s news and headlines are just fodder for story—though most of it is so unbelievable you have to be careful. In researching historical settings I’ve found some really juicy information on microfilm too. Biographies, oral history, obituaries. One of my last manuscripts was based around an obituary I found and saved for four years, knowing I needed him for the sequel to Meander Scar.

Give us an interesting or fun fact about your book/series (one we couldn’t possibly know).

It’s not a tight secret, but not many know that I was the line editor for the Love Is series, except for my own book, of course. It’s been a privilege, and also helps that one eye has been on the finals of the books. I didn’t get my way with my own final manuscript, though. Having written radio scripts and learned how to create movie scripts, I wanted to make Everything About You, which takes place on a movie set, look a little like a movie script. The editors nixed the all capitalized and abbreviated scene breaks.

What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

I adore my grandchildren and my husband and I enjoy spending time with them and traveling. He’s nuts about scenery and wildlife and native culture, and I love museums and walking, though I have a dreadful sense of direction.

What is the one thing you never seem to have enough time for?

Personal reading time. The strangest thing, I know. I read all day long, for work and for other people, and for book clubs, yet I also have piles of books that I picked over the years, as yet unread, because I love the series or the author. I bought myself three books in the Dragonriders of Pern series for Christmas, and they’re staring at me now, begging me to drop everything and read.

You know, this seems to be a common theme among authors…not enough time for reading or writing!! Thank you so much for stopping by, Lisa. Come back any time. Readers, stop by Lisa’s blog today where she’s interviewing me and find out all about my newest book, Xander’s Tangled Web.